Azerbaijan: Mrs Almas Guliyeva

Baroness Ludford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they estimate Mrs Almas Guliyeva will be able to return to this country, following representations they made to the government of Azerbaijan regarding her arrest and detention.

Lord Triesman: The Azerbaijani authorities decided on compassionate grounds to allow Mrs Guliyeva to return to the UK for urgent medical treatment. She arrived in London on 23 June.
	We have been closely involved in the case of Mrs Guliyeva since her arrest and hospitalisation in early June. Consular officers visited Mrs Guliyeva in detention and hospital, and remained in close touch with her doctors, legal representatives and family. They also accompanied Mrs Guliyeva to Baku airport on her departure.

Badgers and Bovine Tuberculosis

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many cases of bovine tuberculosis have been detected since January 2004 in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire in cattle on farms near roads on which badgers found to be infected with the disease have been killed.

Lord Bach: Since January 2004, there were a total of 802* new TB incidents in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, of which 493* were confirmed cases.
	Data on the proximity of herd breakdowns to RTA badgers, found to be positive for bovine TB, is not collected routinely. The independent scientific group, however, has been analysing the spatial association between herd breakdowns and infected badgers in the randomised badger culling trial areas. The results of this work will be published in the Journal of Applied Ecology and should be available on-line in July or August.
	*Derived from data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database: 2004 data downloaded on 8 and 9 February 2005; 2005 data downloaded on 25 May 2005; both published on the Defra website. All data provisional and subject to change as more data become available.

Cabinet Office: FoI Requests

Baroness Wilcox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the Cabinet Office has received to date.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The number of requests received by the Cabinet Office under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, during the period 1 January to 31 March 2005, was published on Thursday 23 June 2005 in a report by the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA). The Cabinet Office figure for this period was 764 requests. Copies of the report are available in the Library.
	The next quarterly report to be published by the DCA later this year will cover the period 1 April to 30 June 2005.

Daily Ireland: Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have provided any funding for the newspaper Daily Ireland, its publishers or printers; and, if so, how much; when; and for what purpose.

Lord Rooker: The information requested on funding to Daily Ireland and its publishers or printers is detailed in the tables below.
	
		Funding for Daily Ireland
		
			 Year Department Monies madeavailable* Purpose offunding 
			 2004–05 *InterTradeIreland £12,000 Sales salary 
			 support— 
			 Acumen 
			 Programme 
		
	
	*North/South implementation body for trade and business
	InterTradeIreland (the trade and business development body) is funded jointly by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) Northern Ireland and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) in the Republic of Ireland. DETI contributes 33 1/3 per cent and DETE contributes 66 2/3 per cent of the funding.
	
		Grants made available to Andersonstown News Group 1 April 1999 to 17 June 2005
		
			 Year(s) Company Funder Purpose of Grant Funding MacAvailable 
			 1999–2000 Andersonstown News Department of Finance and Personnel Accommodation and administration costs £5,095 
			 1999–2000 Andersonstown News Department for Social Development Urban Development Grant scheme to assist the construction of new purpose built works and office accommodation to facilitate business expansion £277,375 
			 2000–01 Andersonstown News LEDU Marketing £7,500 
			 1999–2000 Andersonstown News Department for Social Development Purchase of computer plate technology £70,000 
			 1999–2000 Preas an Phobail *Department of Finance and Personnel/Office of the First and Deputy First Minister Printing costs, audit fees and equipment purchases £33,500 
			 2000–01 Andersonstown News LEDU Training and development costs £37,065 
			 2000–01 Preas an Phobail Ltd LEDU Employment and management salary costs £15,000 
			 £14,000 
			 £1,026 
			 2000–01 Andersonstown News Department of Economic Development/Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Interest subsidy relief on commercial mortgage (not grant) £92,248 
			 2003–04—2004–05 2005–06 Andersonstown News 
			  
			 Lá Arts Council of Northern Ireland 
			 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Production of arts supplement of Lá 
			  
			 Production of two Literary/Arts 
			 Supplements per week. £54,400 
			  
			 £15,000 
			 1999–2000—2005–06 Preas and Phobail Ltd **Foras na Gaeilge Publication costs of Lá £168,839 
			 2004–05 Preas an Phobail Ltd, Belfast and Comharchum ann Forbatha, Gweedore, County Donegal Department of Finance and Personnel (NI) and Department of Finance (RoI) Extension and expansion of Lá £199,150 
			 2005–06 Andersonstown News DETI (Invest NI) Grant to enhance the company's Management Information System £18,240 
		
	
	In addition, under the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace II), the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) has agreed to fund a development project in west Belfast. The proposed project (which aims to create 30 jobs) is for the development of workspace units, aimed primarily at businesses seeking to expand. The total cost of the project is £600,000 and will be funded by Peace II (£270,000) and the promoter (£330,000), the Andersonstown News Group. This project is not related to the Andersonstown News Group newspaper business.
	* The Department of Finance and Personnel was responsible for funding until December 1999 when responsibility for funding transferred to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister under devolution.
	** Foras na Gaeilge (the Irish language agency of the North /South language body) is funded jointly by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) in Northern Ireland and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA) in the Republic of Ireland. DCAL contributes 25 per cent and DCGRA contributes 75 per cent of the funding.

Department for Transport: Meetings with Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any representative, official or Minister from the Department for Transport has met or had any contact with the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on government business since 6 May.

Lord Davies of Oldham: No Ministers from the Department for Transport have met with or contacted Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on government business since 6 May this year.
	Information about whether any official or representative of the department has met or contacted Baroness Symons since 6 May could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Department for Transport: Speed Cameras

Lord Harris of Haringey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why there has been a delay in approving the business case submitted to the Department for Transport by the London Safety Camera Partnership for increasing the number of speed cameras to reduce fatalities and serious accidents on the roads in London.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Departmental officials will be writing shortly to the London Safety Camera Partnership about its 2005–06 operational case, and I have arranged for a copy of that letter to be sent to the noble Lord.

Directors' Remunerations

Lord Wedderburn of Charlton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to take further measures to moderate the rise in the rewards of executive directors of large companies, in the light of projections foreshadowing a rising rate of interest over the next year exceeding the projected rate of increase in wages generally.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Directors' remuneration is primarily a matter for companies and their shareholders. In 2002, the Government introduced the Directors Remuneration Report Regulations aimed at improving disclosure and accountability to shareholders. Independent research conducted last year by Deloitte Touche found that the regulations have been effective, and provided for enhanced shareholder engagement.
	The research suggested that further improvements to disclosure and the linkage between pay and performance are best pursued through the development of best practice guidelines. It is for shareholders to satisfy themselves that remuneration arrangements for directors are in the best interests of the company and the Government has no current plans to take further measures.

EU Budget

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are confident that a modern, reconstructed European Union Budget framework will now be developed following the latest ministerial negotiations.

Lord Triesman: I refer the noble Lord to the Statement made in the House by my noble friend the Leader of the House (Baroness Amos) on 20 June 2005 (Official Report, cols. 1442–44) on the outcome of last week's European Council.

EU: British Media

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will initiate a series of discussions with senior representatives of the British broadsheet press with the aim of securing objective, rather than propagandistic discussion, on European Union policies and on proposals emanating from the commission.

Lord Triesman: The Government have regular contact with the British media to explain the facts about European Union issues.

EU: Candidates for Membership

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that (a) the Ukraine, and (b) Moldova are suitable candidates for membership of the European Union.

Lord Triesman: As neither country has made an application to join the EU, the Commission has not produced assessments of whether they are suitable candidates and no decisions on this have been taken.

EU: UK Budget Rebate

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which other European Union member states are currently in direct support of the United Kingdom official stance against any reduction in our budget rebate.

Lord Triesman: Most other member states have called for changes in the way the UK abatement is calculated. Some have called for the complete abolition of the abatement. As my noble friend the Leader of the House (Baroness Amos) told the House on 20 June (Official Report, cols. 1442–44), the Government's position is not to rule out any discussion of the abatement. Instead we have called for a fundamental review of the EU Budget, dealing both with the abatement and expenditure including the common agricultural policy.

EU: UK Presidency

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are confident that the European Union summit on 17 June will assist in the modernisation of European Union procedures and policies during the United Kingdom presidency starting on 1 July.

Lord Triesman: I refer the noble Lord to the Statement my noble friend the Leader of the House (Baroness Amos) made on the 16 to 17 June European Council in the House on 20 June (Official Report, cols. 1442–44). As she made clear, we are convinced that our presidency provides an opportunity, not just to take forward the issues already before the European Union, but to launch a debate about how Europe can best meet the challenges of globalisation and better respond to the concerns of its people about issues like jobs, security or the environment.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is lawful under Section 10 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for a public authority to opt to delay disclosure of information until the 20th working day following the date of receipt of a request if that public authority could have reasonably released the information earlier.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Section 10 of the FoI Act requires public authorities to respond to requests for information promptly, and in any event no later than the 20th working day following receipt of the request. This timescale can be extended if the public authority requires additional time in order to determine whether the balance of the public interest requires disclosure of information that falls within a qualified exemption. The deadline for response is such time as is reasonable in the circumstances. In some circumstances, the requirement to respond "promptly" may oblige a public authority to respond to a request before the end of the 20th working day following receipt.
	The enforcement process established by the FoI Act applies not only to decisions that are taken on disclosure, but also to compliance with the procedural requirements in the Act. This includes compliance with the time limits for response. If applicant complains about the handling of a request, public authorities' own internal complaints procedures will need to consider whether the request was processed within the time limits prescribed in the FoI Act. The Information Commissioner and the Information Tribunal will also be able to consider the timeliness of responses in determining whether public authorities have acted lawfully and in accordance with their obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Questions of whether a public authority has responded "promptly" will be dealt with within this enforcement process.

G8 2005 Summit: Agricultural Subsidies

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will initiate discussions within the G8 framework for farm subsidy payments to be reduced in the United States, Japan and the European Union.

Lord Triesman: The Government would like to see elimination of all forms of trade-distorting agricultural subsidies, and is committed to a 2010 timetable to end export subsidies. We recognise the importance of these issues for African countries. Africa is a key theme of our G8 presidency. These issues are being addressed in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Developed countries have already committed within the WTO to agree an end date for phasing out agricultural export subsidies.
	We would like G8 members at Gleneagles to provide additional momentum to the current WTO round of trade negotiations. This will help to ensure an ambitious outcome to the WTO Ministerial at Hong Kong in December, which will allow for a successful conclusion to the WTO round, including significant cuts in trade-distorting subsidies. Earlier this month, G8 Finance Ministers reaffirmed the importance of establishing a timetable for the elimination of export subsidies.

Gershon Review: Implementation

Baroness Wilcox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide an up-to-date report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Gershon review.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Efficiency targets were set out for each department in the Spending Review 2004 White Paper. Progress was reported in Budget 2005 and departments will report on further progress in their annual reports.

House of Lords: EU Select Committee

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	For each Session of the last Parliament, how many times the Select Committee of the European Union and each of its sub-committees met; and how many formal reports they each made.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: The number of times the Select Committee of the European Union and each of its sub-committees met in each Session of the last Parliament is set out in the table below.
	
		
			  Session2001–02 Session 2002–03 Session 2003–04 Session 2004–05 
			 European Union   Committee 31 24 22 12 
			 Sub-Committee A   Economic and   Financial Affairs,   and International   Trade) 46 31 29 8 
			 Sub-Committee B   (Internal Market) 45 34 29 15 
			 Sub-Committee C   (Foreign Affairs,   Defence and   Development   Policy) 40 32 25 12 
			 Sub-Committee D   (Environment and   Agriculture) 45 36 25 15 
			 Sub-Committee E   (Law and   Institutions) 26 27 22 10 
			 Sub-Committee F   (Home Affairs) 33 30 28 11 
			 Sub-Committee G   (Social Policy and   Consumer Affairs) Committeenot yetestablished Committeenot yetestablished 30 13 
		
	
	The table below shows the number of reports prepared by each sub-committee and subsequently authorised by the Select Committee for publication; the reports shown as published by the Select Committee itself include a number of formal reports, such as the texts of government responses and of correspondence with Ministers, published on behalf of all sub-committees.
	
		
			  Session 2001–02 Session 2002–03 Session 2003–04 Session 2004–05 
			 European Union   Committee 17 16 10 5 
			 Sub-Committee A   (Economic and   Financial Affairs,   and International   Trade) 2 4 3 3 
			 Sub-Committee B   (Internal Market) 4 4 4 1 
			 Sub-Committee C   (Foreign Affairs,   Defence and   Development   Policy) 1 7 4 3 
			 Sub-Committee D   (Environment and   Agriculture) 4 5 1 0 
			 Sub-Committee E   (Law and   Institutions) 7 11 6 2 
			 Sub-Committee F   (Home Affairs) 3 3 3 2 
			 Sub-Committee G   (Social Policy and   Consumer Affairs) Committeenot yetestablished Committeenot yetestablished 2 1 
		
	
	Notes
	1. Some inquiries span a sessional break, with evidence in one Session and a report in the next. For example, evidence taken by Sub-Committee D in 2004–05 led to a report on CAP reform at the very start of the current Session.
	2. One of the reports shown in the table as prepared by Sub-Committee F in 2004–05 was jointly prepared by Sub-Committees E and F.

Identity Cards: Biometrics

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their current estimate of the latest date by which all British citizens will be required to give their fingerprints and biometric information to the authorities as part of an identity card scheme.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: No date has yet been set for a decision on a move to compulsion. There are a number of factors which the government will consider before laying a draft order containing provision for compulsory registration before Parliament for approval by both Houses. These are explained in Identity Cards: the Next Steps (CM 6020).

Identity Cards: Biometrics

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the total time it would take to record the fingerprints and biometric information of every adult citizen in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: It is not possible to provide a precise estimate until the procurement process is complete, by which time we will have been able to evaluate a number of approaches and technologies. The enrolment of biometrics was tested in the recent UKPS trial. The UKPS trial was not a test of the equipment nor a technology trial, rather of the practicalities of enrolling people's biometric information, such as facial image, fingerprint and iris image. During the trial, the recording process for all three biometrics took on average 10 minutes.

Identity Cards: Unit Cost

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been their estimate of the cost to each individual of acquiring an ID card since January 2003; on what dates the estimate has changed; and for what reason.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Identity Cards Bill Regulatory Impact Assessment (25 May 2005) gave a current best estimate of £93 for the unit cost of an adult passport/ID card package for UK citizens valid for 10 years. This figure reflects the greater robustness of the cost estimates in relation to the identity card scheme, following on from a more detailed specification of the requirements of the scheme both in terms of enrolment and verification services. The analysis was also able to make allowance for non-recoverable VAT, inflation, optimism bias and contingency. In addition, the estimates were based on a better understanding of the cost of improving the security of passports, which is a key building block of the scheme. After November 2004, the Government had decided to deliver the scheme by creating a new agency to issue ID cards and provide verification services which incorporates the UK Passport Service. Other estimates were the best available figures at the time, but did not benefit from the same degree of consultation and discussions with stakeholders and potential suppliers as the unit cost figure above. The earliest estimates were also not informed by decisions on how the scheme would be administered, which made, for example, overhead costs difficult to estimate. The Identity Cards Regulatory Impact Assessment 2004 gave, what was then, a best estimate of £85 for the indicative cost for a combined ID card and passport package, which was linked to a unit cost of £88. This followed consultation with the wider public and interested groups, particularly the Home Affairs Select Committee, which identified additional facilities which will be needed to increase public confidence in the scheme. The Home Office publication, Identity Cards: The Next Steps (CM 6020), from November 2003, gave an estimated cost for a passport and ID card of £77, with a plain card costing £35.

InterTradeIreland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether InterTradeIreland re-ran a recruitment advertising campaign in order to comply with equality legislation; and, if so, what was the cost of the re-run.

Lord Rooker: InterTradeIreland re-ran an advertisement for its FUSION graduate placement programme in newspapers in Ireland and Northern Ireland following representations from the Irish Equality Authority. That body considered that wording in the advertisement might have discouraged older, otherwise qualified persons, from applying for places on the programme. It is unlawful in Ireland to discriminate on the grounds of age. The total cost of running the amended advertisement was £10,700.

Ministry of Defence: Gibraltar Contractorisation Plans

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Ministry of Defence had any consultations with the Gibraltar Government and the relevant trade unions in advance of their "improved efficiency" and contractorisation plans.

Lord Drayson: The Gibraltar Infrastructure Service Provider (ISP) contractorisation plans were decided without prior consultation, as provided for in the Ministry of Defence rules and set out in the personnel manual. My right honourable friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Adam Ingram, provided the Chief Minister of Gibraltar with advance notice of MoD's contractorisation plans during a visit to Gibraltar on 10 February 2005. Commander British Forces Gibraltar informed the trade unions of the plans on 17 February 2005.
	The MoD continues to comply fully with the requirement to consult on the detailed implementation of its contractorisation plans in accordance with the recognised Ministerial prerogative consultation procedure.

Ministry of Defence: Gibraltar Contractorisation Plans

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many job losses are envisaged in Gibraltar as a result of the Ministry of Defence's "improved efficiency" and contractorisation plans.

Lord Drayson: The MoD has no specific plans to make any of its staff redundant because of the infrastructure service provider (ISP) contractorisation plans. It is not possible to say how many of the 296 staff in scope to transfer will actually be retained by the successful bidder until the tender process has completed and the evaluation team has scrutinised individual bids. However, this is a matter for the contractor and not the MoD.

Ministry of Defence: Gibraltar Contractorisation Plans

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the implementation of their proposed "improved efficiency" and contractorisation plans, how many of the existing jobs held by the people of Gibraltar they envisage being taken by Spanish workers.

Lord Drayson: Invitations to tender for the infrastructure service provider (ISP) contract have not yet been issued. The Ministry of Defence has no specific plans to transfer any existing jobs held by the people of Gibraltar to Spanish workers. It is too early to estimate what resources any potential contractor will need to deliver required outputs.

Murder Statistics

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why 172 murders by Dr Harold Shipman were recorded for the year 2002–03 rather than for the years in which the killings were known to have occurred; whether other murder statistics have been recorded in a similar way; and whether they will review such procedures.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The first report of the Shipman inquiry, Death Disguised, established the extent of Harold Shipman's activities. This report, produced in July 2002, identified a further 172 victims. This was the point at which Greater Manchester Police were able to record these as homicide offences. All homicide statistics produced using the Home Office Homicide Index use the date the police recorded the offence. There are no plans to review such procedures.

Northern Ireland Parades Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the annual running costs of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission since its creation.

Lord Rooker: This information is readily available in the reports of the Parades Commission which detail the commission's operating costs for each year since its inception. The reports are laid before Parliament annually and are available in the Library or downloaded from the website at www.paradescommission.org.

Northern Ireland Parades Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to abolish or reconstruct the Northern Ireland Parades Commission.

Lord Rooker: The Parades Commission will be reconstructed later this year, until the competition of a new chairman and commissioners. The commission has also announced its intention to review procedures and documentation in the autumn.

Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 8 June (WA 90), whether they will examine the consistency between that Answer and the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland's letter to the Lord Maginnis of Drumglass dated 18 April; and between that Answer and the earlier Written Answers on 7 February (WA 77), 24 March (WA 49) and 7 April (WA 135).

Lord Rooker: The Answers already provided to the noble Lord are consistent. They explain that while the Police Ombudsman wrote to the Lord Chancellor to clarify comments made by a magistrate about one of the ombudsman's staff, the ombudsman did not question or object to the court's judgment. The Police Ombudsman's letter of 18 April to the noble Lord summarised the matter and, under Section 63 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998, the ombudsman does not believe it is appropriate to disclose copies of the correspondence between her office and the Lord Chancellor.

Northern Ireland: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Rooker on 8 June (WA 90), why information on the number of children diagnosed in Northern Ireland with autism spectrum disorder is not collected; whether such information used to be collected; and, if so, what financial savings have resulted from the decision not to collect this information.

Lord Rooker: I confirm that information on the number of children diagnosed in Northern Ireland with autism spectrum disorder is not held centrally and could only be made available at disproportionate cost. This information has never been held centrally.
	Health and social services trusts hold information about people with autistic spectrum-related conditions, who present themselves for diagnosis and treatment.

Northern Ireland: Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland has the power to inspect (a) the administration; (b) the case work; and (c) the productivity of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland; and how "productivity" is defined.

Lord Rooker: The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland must carry out inspections of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, among other organisations. He may not carry out inspections or reviews of individual cases, nor may he carry out inspections relating to activities which do not concern the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland. The chief inspector is currently conducting an inspection of the Office of the Police Ombudsman in accordance with his published inspection framework "Notes for Inspectors", which is available on the Criminal Justice Inspection website. The inspection framework covers among other things the efficiency and effectiveness of the office.

Northern Ireland: Cluan Place Civil Disorder

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people suffered gunshot wounds in Cluan Place in east Belfast during the civil disorder of 2003; how many weapons were believed to have been used in these incidents; what was the calibre and type of weapons involved; whether the bullet heads involved were recovered and subjected to forensic and ballistic testing; and whether such testing revealed that the weapons had been used in previous incidents.

Lord Rooker: No shootings took place in 2003 and it is assumed the noble Lord meant to ask about 2002. The Answer is drafted in that context.
	1. According to PSNI records:
	Sunday 2 June 2002, 3 persons
	Monday 3 June 2002, 2 persons.
	2. Police believe that a single separate weapon was used on each day.
	3. Police believe the calibre and type to be:
	Sunday 2 June 2002, 9mm short semi-automatic pistol.
	Monday 3 June 2002, .38 special/.357 Magnum revolver.
	4. Fragments of bullets were recovered at both scenes and submitted for forensic and ballistic testing.
	5. Testing led the police to believe that neither weapon had been used in previous incidents. Neither weapon has been recovered to date.

Northern Ireland: Cluan Place Civil Disorder

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any persons have been interviewed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in connection with any incidents involving weapons used during the incident in Cluan Place in east Belfast in 2003; and what paramilitary group or groups are believed to have been associated with these weapons.

Lord Rooker: No shootings took place in 2003, and it is assumed the noble Lord meant to ask about 2002. The Answer is drafted in that context.
	1. Three persons have been arrested and interviewed in relation to the shootings of 2 and 3 June 2005.
	2. Forensic and ballistic testing of bullet fragments led the police to believe that neither weapon had been used in previous incidents. Neither weapon has been recovered to date. Given this it would be inappropriate to attempt to associate the weapons used with a specific paramilitary group.

Northern Ireland: Costello Report

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 5 July 2004 (WA 59), whether, in pursuance of the objectives of the Costello report on post-primary education in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Office has now undertaken and completed an infrastructural audit of current educational facilities outside the Greater Belfast area; if so, what that audit has indicated are (a) the estimated average hours per week that pupils and teachers will spend travelling between schools; and (b) the estimated costs per annum of providing transport and supervisory support during the first 10 years of education; and when any such audit will be made public.

Lord Rooker: It is not proposed that any such audit take place.
	Providing access to the entitlement framework will involve greater collaboration among schools and with FE colleges to secure the range of provision in each locality. New arrangements will be determined locally to take account of local needs, wishes and circumstances.
	Collaboration should be organised so as to minimise disruption to the school day and there are a number of measures which can help achieve this—such as synchronised timetabling, distance learning and e-learning.
	Some schools are already using electronic links to provide distance-learning arrangements with their local FE college.

Northern Ireland: Education Premises

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many properties have been purchased in Northern Ireland for use as education premises since 1999 which required payments to be made for access purposes before the purchase was completed.

Lord Rooker: Only one such purchase has arisen since 1999. The Department of Education and the Department of Education and Science funded the purchase of the site for the Middletown Centre for Autism, Co. Armagh on 30 June 2004. An interim funding agreement was entered into with the St Louis order, the former owners of the property, which allowed access for administration and meetings prior to purchase.

Northern Ireland: Parliamentary Questions

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is meant by "disproportionate cost" in the answering of Parliamentary Questions for Written Answer; and, in the case of the Northern Ireland Office, who makes such judgments and on what basis.

Lord Rooker: Ministers decide what Answers to give to Parliamentary Questions. Where the cost of collecting the information sought exceeds £600, the Minister concerned may decline to provide it.

Northern Ireland: Vacant School Properties

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will examine the vacant schools in Northern Ireland to see whether any of them are suitable for conversion into new integrated schools, in particular Killyleagh High School, Scrabo High School and the Old Technical College, Portadown.

Lord Rooker: There are no plans to carry out such an examination but when a new school is proposed, one of the options examined is whether or not there are any suitable buildings in the area which could be used to accommodate it. Generally, schools are vacated because they are no longer fit for purpose and in most cases refurbishment is impractical and expensive.
	New integrated schools have to be carefully planned and must be able to draw sufficient pupils from both sides of the community.
	With regard to the specific buildings mentioned:
	Killyleagh High School is in a deteriorated condition and is to be demolished for safety reasons.
	Scrabo High School was closed because Newtownards had too many secondary school places and the building has already been demolished.
	The Old Technical College building in Portadown is located on a restricted site in the centre of the town with poor access and no play areas or car parking and would therefore be considered unsuitable for use as a school.

Parliamentary Costs and Sitting Days

Viscount Tenby: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the cost per Member of (a) the European Parliament; (b) the House of Commons; and (c) the House of Lords for 2004–05 and the previous four years; and
	What was the number of sitting days of (a) the European Parliament; (b) the House of Commons; and (c) the House of Lords in the (i) 2003–04 parliamentary Session; (ii) 2004–05 parliamentary Session; (iii) 2004 calendar year; and (iv) 2004–05 financial year; and
	What has been the annual cost of each of (a) the European Parliament; (b) the House of Commons; and (c) the House of Lords; broken down by (i) salaries, pensions, travelling allowances, secretarial expenses of Members; (ii) salaries, allowances and pensions and other costs of supporting staff; (iii) accommodation, including rent, operating costs and security; and (iv) all other administrative costs; for 2004–05 and the previous four financial years.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Precise comparisons between the cost of the European Parliament and the Houses of Parliament are difficult. The requested information is set out below. Unlike previous years' Answers to similar Questions, which were given on a cash basis, the House of Commons and House of Lords have provided data relating to costs on a resource basis, consistent with their resource accounts. The European Parliament has not adopted resource accounting and budgeting and all its cost figures have been presented on a cash basis.
	
		Per Capita Cost Per Member
		
			 £'000s 2004–05 Unaudited Provisional Figures 
			 House of Commons 1   2 489 
			 House of Lords  2 131 
		
	
	Figures for 2000–01 to 2003–04 for the House of Commons and House of Lords can be found in the relevant year's resource accounts 3 . European Parliament figures are available on its website.
	
		Number of Sitting Days
		
			 Sitting Days ParliamentaryYear2003–04 ParliamentaryYear2004–05 CalendarYear 2004 2004–05FinancialYear 
			 European Parliament  173 161 160 163 
			 House of Commons 157 65 160 151 
			 House of Lords 157 63 160 152 
		
	
	Annual Costs
	European Parliament
	The European Parliament outturn figures for calendar years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and budget figures for 2004 and 2005 can be found on the European Parliament website.
	
		House of Commons
		
			 £ millions 2004–05 Provisional Unaudited Outturn 
			 Members' salaries, pensions   travel and allowances 132.8 
			 Salaries and pensions for   administrative staff 55.5 
			 Accommodation costs 2 91.0 
			 Other administration costs 43.0 
			 Total 322.3 
		
	
	Details of previous years expenditure by the House of Commons can be found in the Members and administration resource accounts 3 .
	
		House of Lords
		
			 £ millions 2004–05 Provisional Unaudited Outturn 
			 Members' expenses 14.3 
			 House of Lords staff costs 15.5 
			 Accommodation costs 2 43.8 
			 Other administration costs 16.7 
			 Total 90.3 
		
	
	Details of previous years' expenditure by the House of Lords can be found in its resource accounts. 1 The figures are calculated on the assumption that there are 659 Members. 2 From 2003–04 onwards the figures are based on the capital charge reducing from 6 per cent to 3.5 per cent. 3 House of Commons resource accounts can be found on its website (HC419, HC420, HC67, HC68, HC1239, HC1240) at www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmhocpap.htm/resource.  House of Lords resource accounts can be found on its website (HL23, HL44, HL11, HL197) at www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldres.htm.  European Parliament budget information and number of Members can be found on its website atwww.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/budget/www/index-en.htmandwwwdb.europarl.eu.int/ep6/owwp–meps2.repartition?ilR=EN&iorig=home.  2004, being an election year, had fewer meeting days than a normal year.  Includes plenary sessions as well as part-plenaries, committee days, political group days in Brussels and constituency days.

Planning: Historic School Buildings

Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they are taking, in connection with the modernisation of school premises, to ensure that the element of the architectural heritage represented by schools built in the Victorian period is fully protected.

Lord Adonis: The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 sets out the system of protection for buildings and areas of special architectural or historic interest. The listing of buildings is the responsibility of DCMS and English Heritage, while the development control system that protects them is the responsibility of ODPM. In addition, local authorities are open to create "local lists" which include buildings of special local interest, although these do not have the same statutory protection that listing provides. If a school is listed, significant changes to that building will require listed building consent before the changes can be made.
	In its huge investment in school buildings—£6.3 billion by 2007–08—the department's aim is to promote good design in all its forms, whether this is a new building or an adaptation. We believe that existing buildings of historic or architectural interest should be retained for school use where they can provide an inspiring and inclusive learning environment. Where this is not possible, the department shares English Heritage's view that alternative use should be found rather than the building demolished.
	The department collaborated recently with English Heritage on a publication The Future of Historic Buildings which seeks to increase understanding about dealing with historic school buildings in the light of the current significant school building programme.

Planning: Historic School Buildings

Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will take measures to ensure that if modernised Victorian school buildings are judged inadequate in relation to the amount of space they could provide, they are converted to residential use and sold, rather than being demolished.

Lord Adonis: It is the responsibility of the local planning authority to determine planning applications with relation to a school. Where a school is listed, it will require listed building consent before demolition can take place. Where a school is no longer considered appropriate for educational purposes, the local authority will need to work with the local community to develop the best model for the future use of the site. The department collaborated recently with English Heritage on a publication The Future of Historic Buildings which seeks to increase understanding about dealing with historic school buildings. This document recommends that school buildings of historic significance should be retained and adapted wherever possible, ideally for educational use.

Planning: Renewable Energy

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the household wind turbines that are being marketed by British Gas for installation on the roofs of houses in some regions require planning permission (a) in conservation areas, and (b) in other areas; and, if so, whether there is a presumption in favour of granting such permission; and
	Whether solar panels, including photovoltaic cell panels, installed on the roofs of existing houses require planning permission (a) in conservation areas, and (b) in other areas; and, if so, whether there is a presumption in favour of granting such permission.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In general, works that amount to "development" in planning law require a planning application to be made to the relevant local authority. However, certain types of relatively small-scale work to an individual property benefit from permitted development rights, whereby this requirement is removed. These are set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development Order) 1995 (GPDO).
	As a general rule, those in houses can install solar panels and photovoltaic cells without needing to make a planning application, provided the panels do not project significantly above the plane of the roof. Similarly, whether household wind turbines require planning permission would depend on the type of development that would be required, for example, whether the highest part of the roof was exceeded or whether the shape of any roof slope fronting a highway was altered to a material extent.
	If these works were deemed to be permitted development they would not require planning permission in a conservation area unless the local planning authority had made a direction under Article 4 of the GPDO to remove permitted development rights.
	Where a planning application is required, Planning Policy Statement 22, Renewable Energy (PPS22) will apply. While PPS22 does not contain an explicit presumption in favour of renewable energy developments, it recognises that small-scale renewable energy schemes including solar panels, small-scale wind turbines and photovoltaic cells can be incorporated into both new developments and some existing buildings. It says that local planning authorities should specifically encourage such schemes through positively expressed policies in local development documents.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Costs

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the per capita cost of maintaining the Police Service of Northern Ireland in terms of the police budget set against the population of Northern Ireland, over the period April 2001 to March 2005.

Lord Rooker: Financial Year NI Population  1 PSNI Budget  2 Cost per capita 
			 2001–02 1,685,267 £641,760K £381 
			 2002–03 1,685,267 £655,265K £389 
			 2003–04 1,685,267 £669,770K £397 
			 2004–05 1,685,267 £696,877K £414 
		
	
	1 Based upon NI Census April 2001.
	2 Main police grant cash revenue and capital, excluding non-cash items, pensions, Patten severance and non-severance funding.

Tourism Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Tourism Ireland is providing support to the annual Twelfth celebrations in Northern Ireland this year.

Lord Rooker: Tourism Ireland is not providing support to the annual Twelfth celebrations in Northern Ireland in 2005 as the funding of regional events falls outside the company's remit.

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What extra funding is being provided to the Ulster-Scots Agency during 2005 to help it continue with its agreed policies.

Lord Rooker: To date no extra funding has been awarded to the Ulster-Scots Agency. An application for additional funding has been received from the agency and is currently being considered by both sponsoring departments.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 14 June (WA117), why an open competition for the post of director of marketing and communications at Waterways Ireland was not held when such a competition was held for the post of director of corporate services.

Lord Rooker: I have nothing further to add to my Answer of 14 June (WA 117).

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What qualifications the person appointed as Waterways Ireland's director of marketing and communications possessed, which allowed the decision to appoint that person to be taken without an open competition.

Lord Rooker: The director of marketing and communications at Waterways Ireland was appointed by the chief executive following designation and transfer from the former Irish Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, under relevant legislation.
	I understand from the chief executive at Waterways Ireland that the criteria required for appointment at this level are that the person appointed must have a minimum of 10 years' experience, including at least five years at senior level, in administration and management. The current director of marketing and communications meets these criteria.
	I also refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 6 June 2005 (WA36). I have nothing further to add.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland took concerning the appointment, without competition, of Waterways Ireland's director of marketing and communications.

Lord Rooker: The noble Lord's Question relates to an operational issue involving the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. I am aware that the noble Lord has written to the Equality Commission regarding the issue and that the commission has now investigated and responded directly to him.